1 School of Business, Economic, and Technology Campbellsville University- Louisville Center Research Report Guide A Guide for BA634 Students ©2017, Dr Vincent Scovetta Campbellsville University. All rights reserved. 9/25/2019 2 Table of Contents The Research Report ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 Chapter 1- Background/Introduction (3 – 4 pages) ...................................................................................................... 4 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. 4 Problem Statement and Purpose of Research .............................................................................................................. 4 Relevance and Significance ........................................................................................................................................... 4 Research Questions ...................................................................................................................................................... 5 Barriers and Issues ........................................................................................................................................................ 5 Chapter 2 - Review of the Literature (6-8 pages) .......................................................................................................... 5 Chapter 3 - Approach/Methodology (1 - 2 pages) ........................................................................................................ 5 Chapter 4: Findings, Analysis, and Summary of Results (2 - 4 pages) ........................................................................... 5 Chapter 5: Conclusions (2 - 4 pages) ............................................................................................................................. 5 References .................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Research Report Structure ............................................................................................................................................ 6 Front Matter ............................................................................................................................................................. 6 Chapter 1 through 5 (12 pages): ............................................................................................................................... 6 Back Matter: .............................................................................................................................................................. 6 Document Preparat.

1. 1
School of Business, Economic, and Technology
Campbellsville University- Louisville Center
Research Report Guide
A Guide for BA634 Students
©2017, Dr Vincent Scovetta
Campbellsville University. All rights reserved.
9/25/2019

2. 2
Table of Contents
The Research Report
...............................................................................................
...................................................... 4
Chapter 1- Background/Introduction (3 – 4 pages)
...............................................................................................
....... 4
Introduction
...............................................................................................
................................................................... 4
Problem Statement and Purpose of Research
...............................................................................................
............... 4
Relevance and Significance
...............................................................................................
............................................ 4
Research Questions
...............................................................................................
....................................................... 5
Barriers and Issues
...............................................................................................
......................................................... 5
Chapter 2 - Review of the Literature (6-8 pages)
...............................................................................................

3. ........... 5
Chapter 3 - Approach/Methodology (1 - 2 pages)
...............................................................................................
......... 5
Chapter 4: Findings, Analysis, and Summary of Results (2 - 4
pages) ........................................................................... 5
Chapter 5: Conclusions (2 - 4 pages)
...............................................................................................
.............................. 5
References
...............................................................................................
..................................................................... 6
Research Report Structure
...............................................................................................
............................................. 6
Front Matter
............................................................................. ..................
.............................................................. 6
Chapter 1 through 5 (12 pages):
...............................................................................................
................................ 6
Back Matter:
...............................................................................................
............................................................... 6
Document Preparation – Form and Style
...............................................................................................
....................... 6

4. References and Citations
...............................................................................................
........................................... 7
Margins
...............................................................................................
...................................................................... 7
Line
Spacing................................................................................ ...
............................................................................ 7
Paragraph
Spacing...................................................................................
.................................................................. 7
Page Numbering
...............................................................................................
......................................................... 7
Type Style
...............................................................................................
................................................................... 8
Title Page
...............................................................................................
.................................................................... 8
The Abstract
...............................................................................................
............................................................... 8
Chapter Title, Heading 1, Heading 2
...............................................................................................
.......................... 8

5. Tables and Figures in the Text Body
...............................................................................................
.......................... 9
Appendix
...............................................................................................
.................................................................... 9
Additional Resources
...............................................................................................
..................................................... 9
Sample First Page of Table of Contents
...............................................................................................
....................... 10
3
Sample Reference List
...............................................................................................
.................................................. 11
4
The Research Report

6. The Research Report serves as the deliverable towards partial
completion of the requirement for BA634. The
requirement of your research is expected to be built and
constitutes the five-chapter model. This document is not
intended to be a one-time or static document. The Research
Report needs to be at least 14 pages and is written
in the past and present tense, as appropriate.
The Research Report should be a complete and concise
document that establishes your credentials as a relative
expert in the domain of your study. In all cases, a good
understanding of the specific domain will be necessary
for the successful completion of your study. It is vital that you
stay current in the literature germane to the
study you are conducting and update the chapters accordingly.
The following is the general structure of the Research Report
Chapter 1- Background/Introduction (3 – 4 pages)
In this section, present enough information about the proposed
work so that the reader understands the general
context or setting. It is also helpful to include a summary of
how this document is organized.
Introduction
This section introduces the reader to the structural content of
your Research Report

7. Problem Statement and Purpose of Research
In this section, present a concise statement of a research-worthy
problem to be addressed (i.e., why the work
should be undertaken – don’t state “it was a requirement of the
professor”). Follow the statement of the problem
with a well-supported discussion of its scope and nature. The
discussion of the problem should include: what the
problem is, why it is a problem, how the problem evolved or
developed, and the issues and events leading to the
problem. Your problem statement must be clear, concise, to the
point and able to be articulated in no more than
three sentences.
Relevance and Significance
This section provides the necessary support for both the
problem statement of your study. Consider the following
questions and support your discussion by citing the research
literature:
here a problem? What groups or individuals are
affected?
-ranging is the problem and how great is its impact?
What’s the benefit of solving the problem?
Why weren’t those attempts successful?

8. problem and how will your proposed study offer
promise as a resolution to the problem?
he knowledge base?
5
Research Questions
In this section you will define the research questions you expect
to answer in your finding / results / conclusion
sections. The research question(s) must be directly related to
the problem statement and introduce the reader to
their respective relationships. The answers to the research
question(s) need to be either qualitative or
quantitative.
Barriers and Issues
In this section, identify how the problem is inherently difficult
to solve. You should also show how the solution
you propose are difficult to obtain (unlike a book report). You
should show the study you propose is of adequate
difficulty to warrant a successful grade assignment.

9. Chapter 2 - Review of the Literature (6-8 pages)
In this section, it is important to clearly identify the major areas
on which you will need to focus your research in
order to build a solid foundation for your study in the existing
body of knowledge. The literature review is the
presentation of quality literature in a particular field that serves
as the foundation and justification for the research
problem, research questions or hypothesis, and methodology.
You will develop a more comprehensive review of
the literature as part of your report.
Chapter 3 - Approach/Methodology (1 - 2 pages)
Describe how you plan to address your research problem and
accomplish your stated goal. List the major steps
that must be taken to accomplish the goal and include a
preliminary discussion of the methodology and specific
research methods you plan to implement. Although specific
details are not required at this point, you must provide
adequate discussion of the general process you will follow to
implement your research methodology.
Chapter 4: Findings, Analysis, and Summary of Results (2 - 4
pages)
Chapter 4 includes an objective description and analysis of the
findings, results or outcomes of the research. Limit
the use of charts, tables, figures to those that are needed to
support the narrative. Most of these illustrations can

10. be included as part of the Appendixes.
The following topics are intended to serve as a guide:
Findings & discussion
Chapter 5: Conclusions (2 - 4 pages)
- Clearly state the conclusions of the study based
on the analysis performed and results achieved.
Indicate by the evidence or logical development the extent to
which the specified objectives have been
accomplished. If the research has been guided by hypotheses,
make a statement as to whether the data
supported or rejected these hypotheses. Discuss alternative
explanations for the findings, if appropriate.
Delineate strengths, weaknesses, and limitations of the study.
- Discuss the impact of the work on the field of
study and its contributions to knowledge and
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professional practice. Discuss implications for future research.

11. - Present recommendations for future
research or for changes in research methods or
theoretical concepts. As appropriate, present recommendations
for changes in academic practice, professional
practice, or organizational procedures, practices, and behavior.
References
Follow the most current version of APA to format your
references. However, each reference should be single-
spaced with a double space between each cited entry. Make sure
that every citation is referenced and every
reference is cited.
Research Report Structure
Notes:
final grade of your report. Do not add extra space
to your document in an effort to extend the page count.
Front Matter
o Title Page
o Abstract
o Table of Contents
o List of Tables
o List of Figures
Chapter 1 through 5 (12 pages):

12. Back Matter:
o Appendixes
o References
Document Preparation – Form and Style
Form and style guidelines for a Research Report serve a number
of purposes: to ease adaptation of the document
for publication in whole or part, to ensure a level of
professional appearance, and ease the burden on the readers
of the document by presenting material in a logical, consistent
fashion. Nevertheless, form and style guidelines
should not be burdensome for Peer Reviewer or Professor. The
bulk of the effort in developing and mentoring a
Research Report should certainly be directed toward the quality
of the thoughts being presented, not the
appearance of that presentation.
The current edition of the Publication Manual of the American
Psychological Association serves as the primary
guide for format and style. Since that manual focuses primarily
on publication in journals, some exceptions are
necessary for a Research Report. The Research Report
guidelines are amplified with examples of:
• Title Page (Appendix A)

13. 7
• Table of Contents (Appendix E)
• List of Tables (Appendix F)
• List of Figures (Appendix G)
• First Page of a Chapter (Appendix H)
• Appendix Pages (Appendix I)
• Reference List (Appendix J)
References and Citations
One of the most important tasks in writing a Research Report is
to reference other works and sources in the text
body. You must provide a formal reference citation for each
idea or statement taken from the work of an
individual or organization. Failure to provide a reference
citation, when one is appropriate, is plagiarism, which
is a violation of the university’s Code of Student Conduct and
Academic Responsibility. An act of plagiarism
will subject the student to disciplinary action including
suspension or expulsion from the university. Always err
on the side of caution when writing any formal paper. As you
conduct your work, keep accurate records that
indicate which portions of your Research Report are not your
own words and ideas. If you attempt to do this as
an afterthought, you run the risk of losing the source of the

14. information and committing plagiarism. Reference
citations in the text should use the author-date citation system
specified in the current edition of the Publication
Manual of the American Psychological Association. All
reference citations must be listed alphabetically in the
References section at the end of the document, again following
the format specified in the current edition of the
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
However, each reference should be single-
spaced with a double space in between each entry. Make sure
that every citation is referenced and every
reference is cited.
Margins
The left-hand margin must be 1.5 inches (4 cm.). Margins at the
right, top, and bottom of the page should be 1.0
inch. (See exception for chapter title pages below.) The
Research Report text must be left-aligned (leaving a
ragged right edge).
Line Spacing
Double-spacing is required for most of the text in documents
submitted during the Research Report process.
Pages for the abstract, acknowledgments, and parts of the table
of contents, however, must be single-spaced in
the Research Report. Single-spacing also can be used for table

15. titles and headings, figure captions, references in
a reference list (but double-spacing is required between
references in the list), footnotes, and long quotations.
Long quotations may be indented five spaces. Judicial triple can
improve appearance and readability and is
appropriate after chapter titles, before major subheadings,
before footnotes, and before and after tables in the
text; however, avoid open white spaces.
Paragraph Spacing
The text of the document is double-spaced. There should be no
extra spaces between paragraphs in sections;
however, indent the first line of paragraphs five spaces (1/2
inch). Chapters must begin on new pages.
Page Numbering
Page numbers for the front matter, starting with the Table of
Contents, should be lowercase roman numerals,
centered at the bottom of the page. All pages following the front
matter should have page numbers in Arabic
8
numerals in the upper right-hand corner. The page order and
numbering for the front matter is:
1. Title page is page i, but the page number is not printed.

16. 2. Approval Signature page is page ii, but the page number is
not printed.
3. Abstract is page iii but the page number is not printed.
4. Acknowledgements is page iv and not to exceed one page.
The page number is not printed.
5. Table of Contents is page v and the page number is printed,
bottom center.
6. List of Tables (only present if the document contains tables)
is given the next page number in
sequence, printed bottom center.
7. List of Figures (only present if the document contains
figures) is given the next page number in
sequence, printed bottom center.
Type Style
For body text, you should use 12-point Times New Roman. Text
for the cover page may be larger but should
not exceed 14-point size. Text for the chapter title text should
be 14-point size. Be consistent in your use of
typefaces throughout the document. Do not use a compressed
typeface or any settings on your word processor
that would decrease the spacing between letters or words. Sans
serif typefaces such as Helvetica or Arial may
be used for relatively short blocks of text such as chapter
headings and captions but should be avoided in long
passages of text as they impede readability.

17. Title Page
Every document that is submitted, from the Research Report,
must have a title page. The title page includes the
exact title of the Master’s Thesis, date of submission, your
name, and name of the department which the report
is submitted. Use the format of the Sample Research Report
Title Page provided in Appendix A.
The Abstract
The abstract (see Appendix es C) is single spaced. An abstract
is a stand-alone document and therefore, should
not include citations because it would then need references.
Note that the abstract must be fewer than 200
words.
Chapter Title, Heading 1, Heading 2
It is preferred that Research Report contain no more than three
levels of headings in the body text. All headings
should have only the first letter of each word capitalized except
that non-major words shorter than four letters
have no capital letters. See Appendix H for a sample page for a
first page of a chapter.
Instructions for heading levels follow:
Level 1: Chapter Title
This heading starts two inches from the top of the page, is

18. centered on the page, and is set in 14point type.
The first line contains the chapter number (e.g., Chapter 4). The
second line is blank. The third line
displays the chapter title, is centered on the page, and is set in
14-point type.
Level 2: Heading 1
Start heading 1 at the left margin of the page, four spaces (i.e.,
two returns when your document is set for
9
double-spacing) down from the title, set in bold 12-point type.
Double-space (one return) to the
subheading body text. Indent the first line of the body text five
spaces.
Level 3: Heading 2
Start the heading 2 at the left margin of the page, double-spaced
(i.e., one return when your document is
set up for double-spacing) from the subheading, set in 12-point
italics. Double-space (one return) to the
sub-subheading body text. Indent the first line of the body text
five spaces.
Tables and Figures in the Text Body

19. Charts, graphs, diagrams, figures, and summary tables that
significantly enhance reading of the Research Report
should be placed in the text body. Only include material in the
text body that is needed by the reader to understand
the point(s) you are trying to make. Other material should be
placed in Appendixes. Tables that summarize large
amounts of data are best placed at the end of the Master’s
Thesis. If you have included data in your text related
to some point, then the full table containing such data belongs
in an Appendix. When using tables and figures in
the body of the paper, remember that the horizontal center of
the body is not at the center of the paper. It is 0.25”
to the right of center due to the 1.5” left binding margin. All
tables and figures that are less than body width must
be centered properly. Samples of a table and figure appear in
Appendixes L and M.
Appendix
Place in appropriate appendices all analytical tables, evaluation
instruments, and other material important in the
determination, evaluation, analysis, and description of your
research that is not contained in the text body (see
section above). Use an Appendix to present material that
supplements the text or may be of interest to readers
but is too detailed or distracting for inclusion in the main body

20. of the text. Surveys, evaluation instruments,
original data, complicated mathematical tables, new computer
programs, computer printouts, and data collection
forms are examples of materials that are most appropriately
appended. Do not exclude material that would be
necessary for another researcher to replicate your work and that
is not available elsewhere. Include copies of IRB
permission from the sponsoring organization and from the study
site. Present copies of all letters and e-mails that
allow you to use and modify materials belonging to others. If
appropriate, you may use a titled cover sheet for an
Appendix.
Additional Resources
American Psychological Association (2010). Publication manual
of the American Psychological Association. (6
th
ed.). Washington, D.C.: Author.
Bolker, J. (1998). Writing your Research Reportin fifteen
minutes a day: A guide to starting, revising, and
finishing your doctoral thesis. New York, NY: Henry Holt
Publishing.
Kiernan, V (2005). Writing Your Dissertation with Microsoft
Word. MattilyPublishing, Alexandria, Virginia

21. 10
Sample First Page of Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Abstract iii
List of Tables (if necessary) viii (your actual page number may
be different)
List of Figures (if necessary) ix (your actual page number may
be different)
Chapters
1. Introduction
2. Review of the Literature
theory and research literature specific to the topic 17

22. 3 . Methodology
4. Findings, Analysys, Results,
5. Conclusions, Implications, and Recommendations
Appendices
A. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 140
B. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 148
C. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 155 etc.
Reference List 198
Note: Count and print the number of this page centered here in

23. lowercase Roman.
11
Sample Reference List
American Psychological Association (2010). Publication manual
of the American Psychological Association. (6
th
ed.). Washington, D.C.: Author.
Bolker, J. (1998). Writing your Research Reportin fifteen
minutes a day: A guide to starting, revising, and
finishing your doctoral thesis. New York, NY: Henry Holt
Publishing.
Kiernan, V (2005). Writing Your Dissertation with Microsoft
Word. MattilyPublishing, Alexandria, Virginia

24. The Research ReportChapter 1- Background/Introduction (3 – 4

25. pages)IntroductionProblem Statement and Purpose of
ResearchRelevance and SignificanceResearch QuestionsBarriers
and IssuesChapter 2 - Review of the Literature (6-8
pages)Chapter 3 - Approach/Methodology (1 - 2 pages)Chapter
4: Findings, Analysis, and Summary of Results (2 - 4
pages)Chapter 5: Conclusions (2 - 4 pages)ReferencesResearch
Report StructureFront MatterChapter 1 through 5 (12
pages):Back Matter:Document Preparation – Form and
StyleReferences and CitationsMarginsLine SpacingParagraph
SpacingPage NumberingType StyleTitle PageThe
AbstractChapter Title, Heading 1, Heading 2Tables and Figures
in the Text BodyAppendixAdditional ResourcesSample First
Page of Table of ContentsSample Reference List